gallup] THE WORK OF A CHILDREN' S MUSEUM 159 



Although the reorganization made no radical change in the methods 

 of working with children and teachers, the closer union with the larger 

 and stronger museum brought material aid in the development of 

 collections. 



As the purpose of the museum is to give pleasure to children and 

 a wholesome interest in the world of nature, every effort is made to 

 render the rooms and exhibits attractive. All privileges of the 

 Museum and Library are free from 9:00 A. M. to 5:30 P. M. on every 

 week day in the year and from 2:00 to 5:30 P. M. on Sundays. 

 Children especially are made to feel that the museum has a welcome 

 for them as long as they do not trespass on the rights of others, and 

 some member of the staff is always ready to answer questions or to 

 explain in detail anything of especial interest. It is also the desire 

 of members of the staff to meet all visiting teachers and acquaint 

 them with such museum facilities as may be helpful in school work. 



Attendance is voluntary and children are free to choose their own 

 ways of enjoying the museum. Some prefer to wander independently 

 from one room to another, stopping now and then to read a label, 

 or watch some living animal; and later, retire to the library for an 

 hour with the books. Others, especially the younger visitors, enjoy 

 having some member of the staff take them around, explain everything 

 and answer innumerable questions. 



The popular half-hour talks attract children of all ages, according • 

 to the nature of the subject presented. These talks are regularly 

 given in the museum lecture room which seats sixty pupils comfortably. 

 The monthly schedule provides one talk each week for the primary 

 grades and for each grammar grade. The subjects for discussion — 

 chosen with reference to the public school courses in nature-study, 

 geography, and physics — are supplementary in character, and are il- 

 lustrated with specimens, lantern slides, charts, or experiments as 

 occasion requires. The regular talks are given at 4:00 P. M. on 

 school days and 10:30 A. M. and 2:30 P. M. on Saturdays, to avoid 

 conrliction with school hours. Additional talks are often given, upon 

 request, to teachers and classes interested in subjects not discussed 

 in the regular talks, or to those who are unable to reach the museum 

 in time for the four o'clock meetings. 



In the absence of any official relation with the public school system 

 the museum seeks to extend its service wholly by direct appeal to any 

 who find it helpful. Recognizing the great importance of co-operat- 

 ing with teachers in its efforts to reach the child, it began, in 1902, 



